Senator Francis Fadahunsi has pushed back against claims that he incited violence ahead of Saturday’s Osun governorship election. Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to arrest and investigate the lawmaker over a viral comment credited to him.

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The controversy began after a video surfaced online. It showed Fadahunsi addressing APC supporters in Ilesa. Critics say he urged the crowd to “kill” Accord Party members. Fadahunsi, however, calls the remark purely political. He clarified his position during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“I told them this shows that they are weak and cannot win. They should shut them down by their votes; they should kill them by their votes,” Fadahunsi said. He therefore insists the remark meant defeating opponents at the ballot box, not physical harm. He also stressed that he has never preached violence against any group.

The senator’s media office backed him up. It issued a statement calling the remark “purely political and metaphorical.” The statement read: “At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party.” As a result, the office urged the public not to misread his words.

Fadahunsi further claimed that activists edited the viral clip to distort his message. He argued that the shortened version left out key context. “The video was deliberately edited to distort what I actually said,” he stated. He then explained that his comments actually responded to alleged attacks on APC members in Ilesa and other parts of Osun State.

“What I said was that if the alleged killing of our party members by Accord Party thugs does not stop, our party will retaliate,” Fadahunsi explained. Consequently, he framed his remarks as a warning, not an incitement. He insisted his party would not stay silent while members face attacks.

Despite these clarifications, Governor Adeleke continues to press for accountability. He addressed reporters at a press conference in Osogbo and described the senator’s remarks as a threat that could trigger mass violence. “The second issue has to do with the viral video of a serving senator, Francis Fadahunsi, who today called for the killing of Accord leaders, supporters and their families,” Adeleke said. He also alleged that the senator threatened the wives and children of Accord Party leaders who could not be found.

Adeleke went further and called the situation a matter of national concern. “This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat that requires the attention of Mr President through the Office of the National Security Adviser,” he stated. He also confirmed that the Inspector-General of Police had already acknowledged the video and promised swift action.

The Adeleke campaign council has echoed the governor’s demand. Spokesperson Pelumi Olajengbesi urged the police to intervene immediately and treat the matter with urgency. Meanwhile, Fadahunsi’s team continues to reject any suggestion of wrongdoing. Both camps now await a formal police response.

Saturday’s election draws closer, and this dispute adds to an already tense political climate in Osun State. Voters will therefore watch closely to see how security agencies handle these competing claims before ballots are cast.

Tags: Osun State, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, Governor Adeleke, Accord Party, APC, Osun governorship election, IGP Tunji Disu, Osun election 2026